Jiuxi

Chapter 1002 1000 [Edge]

Ankangfang, Dongcheng, Hezhou Guild Hall.

More than twenty years ago, there was a hometown association hall in Heluo City, which was funded by wealthy gentry from the thirteen states of Jiangnan. Its main purpose was to provide some help to the best of its ability to fellow townsmen who came to the capital. Another important significance was to provide a place to stay for young scholars who came to take the imperial examinations.

With such friendship in place, when those scholars pass the imperial examinations and become officials in the court, they will more or less support and care for their fellow townsmen, thus forming a virtuous circle.

Among the many guild halls, the best conditions are in Xinzhou, Hezhou, Jiangzhou and Huzhou. After all, these four states have always been more prosperous and wealthy than other areas in the south of the Yangtze River.

Today, the Hezhou Guild Hall shows signs of dominating the field, because the hometown of the current Left Prime Minister Xue Nanting is Qingyuan Prefecture, Hezhou, and the hometown of the Minister of Rites Kong Yingdong is Pingyuan Prefecture, Hezhou. In addition, there are many high-ranking officials of the third and fourth ranks who are from Hezhou, which naturally makes fellow townsmen feel proud.

Among the more than 3,700 scholars who took part in this year's imperial examination, 217 were from Hezhou, which was the first among the thirteen prefectures in the south of the Yangtze River and the ten prefectures in the north of the Yangtze River.

Since the Imperial Examination Hall opened on the 16th, the scholars could finally put aside all their burdens and enjoy drinking and having fun before the announcement of the imperial edict, with banquets taking place almost every day.

At noon, three scholars from Kuining Prefecture in Hezhou woke up from their hangover. After washing, they gathered together again. The three of them talked about the maid in Zanhua Tower last night and couldn't help reminiscing about it.

Just then, a long-servant came in a slightly nervous voice and said, "Second Young Master, there are a group of people outside who want to see you and the two young masters."

"A gang?"

The second young master named Chu Jun glanced at the long-servant and said unhappily: "You are such a fool, why can't you ask clearly who it is?"

The attendant bowed his head and said, "Second Young Master, I asked, but those people refused to say anything, and only told you three to go and meet them as soon as possible. I took a quick look at them, and they looked very dignified, and I'm afraid they are officials."

Chu Jun and his two friends looked at each other, feeling worried in their hearts, but they forced a smile and said, "Okay, let's go and see who is so powerful that he dares to come to the Hezhou Guild Hall and make trouble."

After hearing this, the other two became bolder. After all, there were handwritten inscriptions by the left prime minister and the minister of rites on the gate of the guild hall, so ordinary officials would not dare to act recklessly.

The three men straightened their clothes and then walked out with their heads held high.

When they arrived at the front hall, they saw the owner, who always acted arrogantly, standing there, bowing and nodding before a group of sturdy men.

Chu Jun felt increasingly uneasy, and walked up to the owner and asked, "Mr. Liu, who are these people?"

The owner of the museum did not dare to speak without authorization. The thirty-year-old man standing next to him looked at Chu Jun with a sharp gaze like a knife, which made Chu Jun dare not look at him. Then he heard the other party ask: "Are you Chu Jun?"

Chu Jun was so frightened by his aura that he dared not not answer, and whispered, "Yes."

The thirty-year-old man then asked the other two, "Which one of you is He Kang? And who is Xiang Yuxuan?"

The two young scholars timidly revealed their identities.

The thirty-year-old man looked at his subordinates and said calmly, "These are the three people, right?"

The subordinate stepped forward and carefully examined the appearance of Chu Jun and the other three people, then nodded and said, "My Lord, it is them."

The thirty-year-old man said, "Take them away."

"and many more!"

Chu Jun finally couldn't bear it any longer, and said in a half-fearful and half-angry voice: "I wonder what position you hold? Where are you taking us? This is the Hezhou Guild Hall. Outside there are plaques written by the current left prime minister and the great minister of the imperial clan. We are all innocent scholars participating in this year's imperial examination. There has been no one in our family who has committed crimes for three generations. Why are you taking us away?"

"It's quite courageous."

The thirty-year-old man said with a hint of sarcasm, "No wonder you dared to cheat in the imperial examination."

As soon as these words were spoken, Chu Jun and the other three felt as if struck by lightning, and their bodies began to tremble involuntarily.

As for the museum owner, he wished he could stay as far away from the three of them as possible.

Chu Jun said with a pale face: "Who exactly are you?"

The thirty-year-old man said, "You don't need to worry about who I am. You just need to understand one thing: I am taking you back for questioning on the orders of the King of Qin."

King Qin?

Chu Jun and the two scholars felt dizzy and almost collapsed to the ground.

The thirty-year-old man said nothing more. He ordered his subordinates to carry the three men and walked straight out. The owner of the museum did not dare to stop them at all.

However, when this group of people were about to walk out of the guild hall gate, another group of people came to meet them.

"Brother Yin."

Deng Junfei, the current supervisor of the Weaving Bureau, smiled and bowed to the thirty-year-old man, then asked curiously, "What's going on?" The thirty-year-old man was Yin Shangfu. When he was working in the Weaving Bureau, he had a good relationship with Deng Junfei.

Looking at his former superior, Yin Shangfu calmly returned the greeting and said, "Deng Tidian, I am here on the orders of the King of Qin to arrest Chu Jun and three others who are suspected of cheating in the imperial examination."

"What a coincidence."

Deng Junfei smiled, glanced at the three young scholars who were being held up behind Yin Shangfu, stepped forward and said, "I am following the order of Qin Tiju to take these three people back to the Textile Bureau for questioning. I hope Brother Yin will help me."

Yin Shangfu looked normal, but his tone was particularly firm: "No."

In the past six months, people from the Weaving Bureau and the Qin Palace had often run into each other, and almost every time it was Lu Chen's people who took the initiative to retreat. That's why Deng Junfei dared to snatch people away today. After all, the Weaving Bureau had the power to monitor and arrest, and he also had the warrant signed by Qin Zheng, so his actions were justified.

Deng Junfei didn't expect Yin Shangfu to be so resolute. After a moment of surprise, he put away his smile and said, "Brother Yin, I have no disrespect for the King of Qin, but as far as I know, the King of Qin's Mansion does not have the power to judge cases and arrest people. This is the responsibility of our Weaving Department. You also worked in the Weaving Department, so you should be very clear about this."

Yin Shangfu said calmly: "That being said, although we are here today on the orders of the King of Qin, we are not here as guards of the palace."

Deng Junfei frowned and asked, "What do you mean?"

Yin Shangfu looked him straight in the eyes and said, "We are affiliated with the Innovation Department. We can intervene in all matters related to the new policy. Isn't Deng Tidian unaware of this?"

Deng Junfei was suddenly speechless.

As a temporary government office responsible for implementing the new policies, the Reform Department is almost entirely controlled by Lu Chen. He does not even need the consent of the emperor or the central government to appoint officials. However, in the past few months, the Reform Department has appeared to be very honest and responsible only for the planning of the new policies and on-site supervision, and has not done anything that would cross the line and make the civil and military officials in the court feel uneasy.

At this moment, Deng Junfei finally reacted.

The unfathomable King of Qin did not just want to hold on to military power, nor did he intend to interfere in the political power. Perhaps he was just waiting for a suitable opportunity.

Now, the government and the public have become accustomed to the existence of the Innovation Department. At this time, taking advantage of the possible fraud case in the Enke exam, the elite personnel under the King of Qin can be transferred to the Innovation Department and interfere in the court affairs. This will not only conflict with the authority of the Weaving Department, but it is also likely to lead to the emergence of an unimaginable and unrestrained privileged government office.

With Deng Junfei's knowledge, he couldn't even imagine the subsequent situation. He only knew that he must not disappoint Qin Zheng's expectations and must not let Yin Shangfu take these three scholars away.

Thinking of this, Deng Junfei said coldly: "Brother Yin, the responsibility of the Innovation Department is to plan the content of the new policy and to supervise, but it does not include investigating cases and arresting people. The court departments have their own responsibilities. No matter what, you can't bypass the Textile Department and arrest these scholars with meritorious service without authorization."

Chu Jun and the other three were already panicking at this moment. They certainly didn't want to be taken away by the King of Qin's men, but how could the Weaving Bureau be a good place?

Both sides are in a situation worse than death.

As for the guild hall owner and other bystanders, they had already hidden themselves away when the two groups of people confronted each other.

Yin Shangfu shook his head and said, "Deng Tidian, let me say it again, this is an official order from the King of Qin himself and recorded by the Innovation Department. Please move aside and don't hurt the harmony."

Deng Junfei frowned, and the secret agents from the Weaving Bureau behind him stepped forward.

It's not that they are unaware of Lu Chen's power and reputation, but as Deng Junfei said, this is a task assigned by Qin Zheng. Those who are dispatched today are all the confidants cultivated by the Lord Tizhu over the past decade. If they go back in disgrace, they will feel ashamed to see Qin Zheng.

The next moment, Yin Sangfu slowly raised his right arm.

The reactions of the people behind him were sharp and direct. They drew their swords without any hesitation, and a murderous aura rose into the sky.

Deng Junfei's pupils suddenly contracted. He originally thought that this former subordinate would not dare to directly provoke a fight between the two sides, but he did not expect the other party to be so decisive.

Yin Shangfu no longer gave in like he had done in the past few months, and said in a deep voice, "Please move aside."

After all, Deng Junfei didn't dare to fight with these fierce guys who nominally belonged to the Innovation Department but were actually the secret guards of the Prince of Qin's Palace. He knew that he could not bear the crime, so after a brief thought, he waved his hand with a grim face.

The people from the Weaving Bureau made way, and Yin Shangfu took his people away, and there was no further negotiation between the two sides.

After walking out of the main entrance of the guild hall, Yin Shangfu glanced at the three scholars who could barely stand and said calmly, "Take them back to the Innovation Department and ask them all their secrets within half an hour."

"Follow the order!"

As everyone responded solemnly, they quickly split into two groups. One group escorted the three scholars to the Reform Bureau, while Yin Shangfu took the others to the next destination.

Since Lu Chen has decided to take action, how could he just focus on three unknown scholars?

The moment he entered the palace, Yin Shangfu, Nan Yi, Tan Zheng and a large number of elite fighters, under the command of Su Yunqing, rushed to various parts of the city and launched a lightning-fast and fierce search and interrogation towards the targets set in advance.

In the Qinzheng Hall of the Imperial Palace, Lu Chen looked at the expressionless Qin Zheng, the director of the Textile Bureau. When Queen Mother Ning and the two prime ministers gradually felt uneasy, he finally asked, "Sir Qin, does the Textile Bureau really know nothing?"

(End of this chapter)